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我推荐几份自专给准备上大学的高中生参考.因为自专写得水准如何,会直接影响到你所投报大学的成功与失败.
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Short Answer: Willie Phan, Stanford University, Class of 2009
When I was little, my grandfather would treat me for helping him withyard work by becoming a magician. I recall watching him press his thumbagainst a hose nozzle to summon a fan of water. I'd look at theminiature geyser in time to see a rainbow appear, and I'd think tomyself, "This must be magic!" Today, science still has not lost itsmystical allure-though I can now explain the prismatic display with theconcepts of light refraction and variation in frequencies.
As a sophomore, I joined the biodiesel research team at my high school.I was excited to be doing something meaningful-not only for myself, butpotentially for the scientific community as well. It was a surrealfeeling to put on goggles and gloves, measure out the appropriateamount of soybean oil, methanol, and lye, and participate in thetransesterification process from start to finish. For the first time, Itruly understood the meaning of applied science. As we made batch afterbatch of this alternative fuel, then tested it for microbial content, Iwas venturing into uncharted areas of science. I was living my passion,right there with a pipette in one hand and a bottle of methylene bluein the other.
I can't recall a time that I didn't have a fascination with science. Iam invigorated by the prospect of pursuing answers to questions thatshape our society. As I delve deeper into the biodiesel research, mylove of science continues to grow, fueling the same spark that mygrandfather ignited up more than a decade ago.
Short answer: Jeff Lai, University of California-Berkeley, Class of 2010
My eyes were glued to the Petri dishes; I diverted all concentrationfrom the world around me into the short plastic cylinders in front ofme. During sophomore year, I conducted an independent research projecton plasmid incorporation rates in E. Coli by mixing pLUX plasmids withLuria-Broth Agar that fed my bacteria. In two days, I eagerly ran to mydishes and peaked at the bacteria. With my hand shaking fromnervousness and delight, I held a black light to count what percentageof bacteria incorporated the plasmid that allowed them to glow.
I have had an affinity towards biology since fourth grade. I rememberlearning about photosynthesis, which led me to my first discovery ofthe wonders of nature. That day I returned home and sat next to theplum tree in my backyard, contemplating the effects of our oxygen andcarbon dioxide exchange. I remember breathing on the tree, hoping togive it carbon dioxide and waiting for oxygen in return. I remainedfixated on my spontaneous quest for some time, but in the end I decidedthat my results were inconclusive. Determined to find a tangibleanswer, I ran inside to read any book that was plant related.
I carried this same intellectual enthusiasm through high school. Mybiology teacher, Mr. Hunt, and the AP Biology course nurtured myfascination to a point where discussion was not enough to satisfy myhunger for biology. I devoured each word and savored each picture inthe microbiological section of my hardback, yet I still cravedsomething more substantial. Performing the plasmid project brought mypassion to life; I could have mixed the solution and counted bacteriafor days on end and still find myself enthused. Sharing my results withProfessor Wehmeyer from University of Arizona left me gratified for herhelp, but just like my E. Coli, the question addressed by my experimentsoon proliferated into dozens of others about the possibilities ofincorporation. Reacting in a way similar to a time six years ago, Isped to the UCI library to restart my cycle of reading andexperimenting.
Personal statement: Andrew Dao, Stanford University, Class of 2010
I was only six years old when I first witnessed the terrible powerof my mom’s addiction. My parents had been arguing, and in frustrationmy mom went to her car and started to leave for the Bay 101 Casino. Iremember my dad dragging my two brothers and me into the garage andyelling at us to lie down behind the car’s tires to keep my mom fromleaving. She turned around and screamed at us, saying that if we didn’tmove, she was going to run us over. Her eyes blazed with pure rage. Itrembled with fear as I looked into her face—this mad, crazy womancouldn’t be my mom. My mom would never threaten her children. And yetshe had, and it was convincing enough to make me jump out of the way.Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched her car round the corner anddisappear.
That incident was the beginning of a slow decline. As the years passed,my mother’s presence around the house became increasingly rare. Throughit all, however, I never once hated her. I despised her gamblingaddiction—the real cause of her absence. She was no longer thecompassionate, dutiful, and loving mother I had known. She lived onlyfor the lights above the casino table, the adrenaline rush of a hugebet, and the roll of the dice. To feed her addiction, she committedcheck fraud, credit card fraud, and even borrowed money from my father,her now ex-husband.
Eventually she was incarcerated at the California Institution forWomen. Visiting her there one day, she spoke words I will never forget.“Don’t end up like me,” she said. “I have fallen from grace, and Idon’t want that to happen to you as well. Go to college, study hard,and have a successful career. But above all, be a good person; besomeone I can be proud of.” I will never forget the anguish in her eyesand the emotion in her voice as she held me close and made me promisethat I would never fall prey to addiction.
Sometimes sleep seemed the only solution to my loneliness, but eventhat did not always dull the pain. Once, I woke up in the middle of thenight in a panic. Crying out, I jumped from my bed and bolted to mymother’s old bedroom in search of comfort. Then it hit me: my momdidn’t live with us anymore. At that moment she was in some small, darkcell. I crumpled down and whimpered. The noise must have awoken myfather because soon I felt two strong arms wrapped safely around me. Ispent what seemed an eternity in my father’s arms. Afterwards I took mysleeping bag to his room and slept there. I couldn’t stand to be alonethat night.
During my childhood, what kept my dreams alive, and my thoughts focusedon my future, was family—my brothers and father. I was lucky to havethe love of a devoted family. But not everyone has that kind ofsupport. They are the ones that need help the most.
With that thought and my mother’s hopes for me in mind, my brothers andI spend Saturday mornings at community runs, elderly homes, andhomeless shelters, doing whatever we can to make a positive differencein the lives of others. But more than just a simple distraction, I havefound a sense of fulfillment and purpose in my activities. Even if Ihave to sacrifice a few hours of sleep, I don’t mind waking up beforethe sun rises to carpool people to community service events. Thosecrisp, clear mornings are better spent knowing that I am making a realdifference, not just dreaming about how I could or will do something inthe future. In this way, I have been able to keep my promise to mymother and to myself.
The family I will raise, the job I will have, and the responsibilitiesI will assume leave no room for drugs, alcohol, or gambling. I don’twant my kids to come home every day after school, hoping and longingfor their dad to be home. Instead, I would rather my kids have a happyand carefree childhood, the one I never had myself.
Personal statement: Travis Kiefer, Stanford University, Class of 2010
The mountain of timber was growing as I added a few more pieces of splitwood. Breathing heavily, I set another block and swung my sledgehammer around,feeling the heavy impact and the woosh-crack of another successful split.Kindling was the inevitable choice for my family; it would heat our house inthe winter and help ebb the costs of using propane. The economic limitationsof my life propelled me to take action to make life better for my family.One of my first memories after coming home from a summer camp to an emptyhouse was listening to two voice messages that said our electricity and phoneline would be disconnected due to unpaid balances. My home life was alwaysdifficult but this experience helped me realize the implications of my family'ssituation.
When I was five years old, my parents had a long, drawn out custody battlewith raised voices and elevated tempers. My mother was eventually victorious,and her trophy consisted of working a dead-end job to support three youngchildren. She remarried and my family was better able to provide for itself,but we were still clipping food stamps. I was unable to participate inextracurricular activities because money was tight. Often after coming home onthe bus, I would start washing dishes, folding clothes, and changing thediapers of two new family members.
I was raised in a family with parent's word as law and having to ask forpermission to do almost everything except go to the bathroom. I began to fearmy step-father after he beat me for not wanting to do dishes. I was in secondgrade and tired of doing dishes with my brother for my family because myparents would just sit and watch television afterwards. I felt it would befair to have both parents and children do dishes every other night, but thatwas not the case; a quick beating resolved the issue.From that day on I did as I was told, and I worked hard at it. I feared tofail, and what that would mean, and sought to please my parents. It seems Inever could please my parents. I continually try, but for everything I do,there is little acknowledgment and an attitude of indifference. It was in highschool when I started to participate in extracurricular activities, but thatwas after I got a job to pay for transportation, extracurricular activities,and social life.
One of the most significant risks I took was applying for the Quest ScholarsProgram. I filled out a twenty-two page application that would tell me whetheror not I was a semi-finalist, and after I found out I was, I went to localbusinesses in my community and fundraised $1,700 for transportation to theinterview. After going through the whole process of selling myself anddedicating many hours to an opportunity that may not have been fruitful, Ireceived a phone call that told me I was invited to be a Quest Scholar. Afterhearing the news, I called my parents while my mother was recovering fromsurgery to tell them the great news. My step-father was the first to answerthe phone, and I told him immediately. His first response was, “I'm proud ofyou.” That was the first time I can ever remember him saying that, and it leftme speechless. I was awed by the fact that my step-father was finally proud ofme for something, and there were tears welling up in my eyes. After chokingout a quick thank you I asked to talk to my mother and tell her the news. Itfelt so good to finally hear my parents say that something I did wasworthwhile, especially after putting much time and energy to the cause.When my step-father came home from the hospital and heard the message aboutthe bills, all he could do was shake his head. I stood there, not knowing whatto say. The following morning, before we both went to work, my step-fatherasked me to take the last remaining cash he had and pay the electric and phonecompany. It wasn't near enough to cover the bills and he asked me to tell thecompanies that he would pay the rest of the bills when he received his nextpaycheck. I took the cash in my hand, looked my step-father in the eyes, andtold him that I would pay the remainder of the bills. I also gave him enoughmoney so that he could visit my mother in a couple of days because she wasstill at the hospital.
The moment right before I told my step-father I would pay the bills seemedto last an eternity. My mind was racing with thoughts of why I should help outwhen I received so little from them, as compared to my heart telling me it wasmy moral responsibility to help my family in any way, shape or form. Thatmoment, when I said I would pay the rest of the bills, was the first time I hadtaken a stand on what I would do when speaking with my step-father. My bodytrembled with uneasiness and I said I would help because I love my family. Nomatter how much it seemed they may not appreciate me, deep down, I knew I lovedthem.
It has been a few months since that critical moment in my life. I stillhelp pay for bills and my parents are developing a financial crutch on me,which will be an issue when I go to college. I feel a sense of responsibilityto help them, but they aren't fiscally prudent. My parents spend excessiveamounts of money on trivial things, like donuts, when we have bill collectorscalling daily. My parents still have a pickup initially valued at their totalincome for a year when it could be sold and used to purchase things such asdecent plumbing, heating, and the debts still outstanding. I can't change myparents, but I can learn from their errors, and do my best to help in extremecircumstances.
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窥视卡
雷达卡
发表于 2008-9-7 22:26:03
提升卡
置顶卡
沉默卡
喧嚣卡
变色卡
千斤顶
照妖镜
楼主
发表于 2008-9-11 13:06:43
以上的自专是按照以下的要求而写出来的)
